Effectiveness of add-on pegylated interferon alfa-2a therapy in a lamivudine-treated patient with chronic hepatitis B

Ann Hepatol. 2011 Jan-Mar;10(1):84-7.

Abstract

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface antigen (HBsAg) to anti-HBsAg (anti-HBs) antibody seroconversion is the best, final objective for all available chronic hepatitis B (CHB) treatments. Unfortunately, this goal is rarely obtained with the currently utilized therapeutic approaches. Here we describe the case of a CHB patient who was very successfully treated with a particular therapeutic schedule. The patient was initially treated with lamivudine for four years. Subsequently, pegylated interferon alpha-2a was introduced for a period of one year. During this period of combined therapies, the patient showed a flare of aminotransferase values followed by complete normalization of liver biochemistry parameters and HBsAg/anti-HBs seroconversion that persisted up to 24 months after all therapies had been stopped.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Alanine Transaminase / blood
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • DNA, Viral / blood
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Hepatitis B / genetics
  • Hepatitis B / immunology
  • Hepatitis B Antibodies / blood
  • Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / blood
  • Hepatitis B, Chronic / diagnosis
  • Hepatitis B, Chronic / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Interferon alpha-2
  • Interferon-alpha / therapeutic use*
  • Lamivudine / therapeutic use*
  • Male
  • Polyethylene Glycols / therapeutic use*
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Viral Load
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Biomarkers
  • DNA, Viral
  • Hepatitis B Antibodies
  • Hepatitis B Surface Antigens
  • Interferon alpha-2
  • Interferon-alpha
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Lamivudine
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Alanine Transaminase
  • peginterferon alfa-2a